Finding the truth in history is essential

Nicholas WarrBe Our Guest

Published: Wednesday, August 14, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, August 13, 2013 at 6:26 p.m.

I read with great interest the “Other Voices” editorial in Saturday’s issue of the Times-News: “Education’s ‘soft’ sciences get left behind.” That article is really about the importance of the study of history in today’s classrooms.

As Spanish philosopher George Santayana stated, “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” This philosophical truth was never more pertinent than in reference to our experiences during the Vietnam War.

I actually enjoyed history in high school. I was very lucky in that my sophomore U.S. history teacher was young and gifted. He knew that many people are put to sleep when required to read, study and memorize names, events and dates from our past. He was able to encourage me to look behind the dry data to the meaning and impact of people and events in our history and how they affect us today and tomorrow.

If you believe, like I do, that Santayana was “right on,” then what happened to our nation in the 1960s and x’70s is extremely important, especially in light of the fact that history is repeating itself every day on many battlefields in distant lands.

My view of the world today is very much skewed by my personal experiences during the Vietnam War. For the past several decades, I have written about my experiences as a U.S. Marine in Vietnam, both in history books and in op-ed pieces. When read by combat veterans of any era, my books receive high praise, and for that I’m very thankful. However, when read by those who have never spent any time in uniform, often the reaction is disbelief or downright hostility.

After writing an op-ed a year and a half ago regarding the wonderful “Welcome Home” event for Vietnam veterans sponsored by the Charlotte Motor Speedway and the USO in March 2012, wherein I recounted the historical facts that the U.S. military won virtually every significant battle during the Vietnam War, yet our political leaders lost the war by legislatively reducing and then ceasing all military aid to our ally, the Republic of South Vietnam, one reaction I received was that I was a liar and distorter of the facts. This person claimed that “everyone knows that the Vietnam War was unwinnable.”

It was very disturbing to me to hear these words, and I have wondered how anyone could express the opinion that I was a liar when all I had done was to state historical facts.

One possibility is that this individual had read former Secretary of Defense Robert Strange McNamara’s puzzling book in which he claims (essentially) that the Vietnam War was unwinnable. It has always puzzled me how someone in McNamara’s position could make that statement in a book published in 1995, yet know he did nothing to try to stop the war in 1965 when he was in a position to at least try to do so.

On this subject, my reading and studying the history of the Vietnam War led me to another book, “Dereliction of Duty; Johnson, McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Lies That Led to Vietnam” by H.R. McMaster. This book uncovers many uncomfortable truths about the Vietnam War, including one jolting historical fact: McNamara, sent by President Lyndon Johnson on a fact-finding mission to South Vietnam early in the war, actually wrote his report before he left the U.S. and didn’t make a single change in it after his return. This was someone who had preconceived notions about the war, not someone seeking the truth on the ground.

As a veteran of the Battle for Hue during the Tet Offensive of 1968, which proved to be a pivotal moment in U.S. history, I was gratified to discover a new book titled “This Time We Win; Revisiting the Tet Offensive,” by James S. Robbins. If you have paid any attention to what is taught in our schools these days, you will know this battle was pronounced an abject failure by “the most trusted man in America,” Walter Cronkite, which eventually coerced Lyndon Johnson to leave the presidency. And yet, through the study of historical fact (and this great book), you will learn that the Tet Offensive of 1968 was a major victory for the U.S. military.

Also, to those who are still convinced the Vietnam War was an unwinnable war, please read local author Leonard M. “Mike” Scruggs’ important book, “Lessons from the Vietnam War; Truths the Media Never Told You.” But be prepared to change your mind.

Finally, although the study of history is critically important to our future, even more important is the necessity of finding and realizing the truth in history. Those who seek the truth, those who study the history of the Vietnam War era in our history, will realize that our failure there was caused by an abject lack of leadership in our civilian ranks.

Education reaps the power of knowledge which becomes wisdom. Future leaders must be well educated and wise in order to avoid the mistakes in our past.

<p>I read with great interest the “Other Voices” editorial in Saturday's issue of the Times-News: “Education's 'soft' sciences get left behind.” That article is really about the importance of the study of history in today's classrooms.</p><p>As Spanish philosopher George Santayana stated, “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” This philosophical truth was never more pertinent than in reference to our experiences during the Vietnam War.</p><p>I actually enjoyed history in high school. I was very lucky in that my sophomore U.S. history teacher was young and gifted. He knew that many people are put to sleep when required to read, study and memorize names, events and dates from our past. He was able to encourage me to look behind the dry data to the meaning and impact of people and events in our history and how they affect us today and tomorrow.</p><p>If you believe, like I do, that Santayana was “right on,” then what happened to our nation in the 1960s and x'70s is extremely important, especially in light of the fact that history is repeating itself every day on many battlefields in distant lands.</p><p>My view of the world today is very much skewed by my personal experiences during the Vietnam War. For the past several decades, I have written about my experiences as a U.S. Marine in Vietnam, both in history books and in op-ed pieces. When read by combat veterans of any era, my books receive high praise, and for that I'm very thankful. However, when read by those who have never spent any time in uniform, often the reaction is disbelief or downright hostility.</p><p>After writing an op-ed a year and a half ago regarding the wonderful “Welcome Home” event for Vietnam veterans sponsored by the Charlotte Motor Speedway and the USO in March 2012, wherein I recounted the historical facts that the U.S. military won virtually every significant battle during the Vietnam War, yet our political leaders lost the war by legislatively reducing and then ceasing all military aid to our ally, the Republic of South Vietnam, one reaction I received was that I was a liar and distorter of the facts. This person claimed that “everyone knows that the Vietnam War was unwinnable.”</p><p>It was very disturbing to me to hear these words, and I have wondered how anyone could express the opinion that I was a liar when all I had done was to state historical facts.</p><p>One possibility is that this individual had read former Secretary of Defense Robert Strange McNamara's puzzling book in which he claims (essentially) that the Vietnam War was unwinnable. It has always puzzled me how someone in McNamara's position could make that statement in a book published in 1995, yet know he did nothing to try to stop the war in 1965 when he was in a position to at least try to do so.</p><p>On this subject, my reading and studying the history of the Vietnam War led me to another book, “Dereliction of Duty; Johnson, McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Lies That Led to Vietnam” by H.R. McMaster. This book uncovers many uncomfortable truths about the Vietnam War, including one jolting historical fact: McNamara, sent by President Lyndon Johnson on a fact-finding mission to South Vietnam early in the war, actually wrote his report before he left the U.S. and didn't make a single change in it after his return. This was someone who had preconceived notions about the war, not someone seeking the truth on the ground.</p><p>As a veteran of the Battle for Hue during the Tet Offensive of 1968, which proved to be a pivotal moment in U.S. history, I was gratified to discover a new book titled “This Time We Win; Revisiting the Tet Offensive,” by James S. Robbins. If you have paid any attention to what is taught in our schools these days, you will know this battle was pronounced an abject failure by “the most trusted man in America,” Walter Cronkite, which eventually coerced Lyndon Johnson to leave the presidency. And yet, through the study of historical fact (and this great book), you will learn that the Tet Offensive of 1968 was a major victory for the U.S. military.</p><p>Also, to those who are still convinced the Vietnam War was an unwinnable war, please read local author Leonard M. “Mike” Scruggs' important book, “Lessons from the Vietnam War; Truths the Media Never Told You.” But be prepared to change your mind.</p><p>Finally, although the study of history is critically important to our future, even more important is the necessity of finding and realizing the truth in history. Those who seek the truth, those who study the history of the Vietnam War era in our history, will realize that our failure there was caused by an abject lack of leadership in our civilian ranks.</p><p>Education reaps the power of knowledge which becomes wisdom. Future leaders must be well educated and wise in order to avoid the mistakes in our past.</p>